The second annual Battle of the Blades, hosted by the Atlantic Police Association of Nova Scotia, is set for Feb. 27 at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre. The hockey game will pit members of the Truro Police Service head-to-head with their counterparts at the Truro Fire Service. Various organizations will benefit from the fundraiser, including the Colchester Food Bank.

“We have quite a few who really enjoy it,” Mary DeAdder, co-ordinator of the food bank, said. “They see them as individuals having a good time. They’re always helping the community, but this time they’re helping them in a different way.”

Truro Police Service Cpl. Rick Hickox, who is also the association’s vice-president, said the police won the game last year.

“It was a close game, but we’re very competitive,” he said. “But we enjoy that rivalry.”

“And the camaraderie,” added firefighter Kevin Boates.

The game begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are available at the door. Along with the food bank, charities supported through the game include Cobequid Educational Centre (CEC) Safe Grad, the Children’s Wish Foundation,

Maggie’s Place Family Resource Centre, the Boys and Girls Club of Truro and Colchester and the Colchester SPCA.

“It’s a way to give back to the community,” said Hickox.

“We hand out about $3,000 to the local charities.”

Along with the charity hockey game, student council members from CEC will be hitting the streets in various communities collecting non-perishable food donations for the food bank. They’ll be going door-to-door with identifiable clothing this Friday between 4 and 8 p.m., however, the school will also be open for anyone wishing to drop off any donations.

“Last year, the students gathered 990 pounds of food, so we’re looking to beat that this year,” said Truro Police Service Const. Edwin Reynolds, CEC’s liaison officer.

Student council co-president Rodney Hatcher said students will be throughout Truro and surrounding communities for food bank donations, with anywhere from 20 to 40 students participating.

“It depends on how many students are ready to dedicate their time,” he said. “We feel it’s a part of our duty to the community. As the saying goes – it takes a village to raise a child, and there is no reason why that child can’t give back to the village.”

While this is only the second charity hockey game, DeAdder said many people have been asking when another might be held.

“This is really special to us,” she said. “This is helping out a lot of people. At this time of year, our donations and stock are going down and this let’s us know how many friends we have.”

She said the food bank will benefit for about a week surrounding the game, as many people will drop into the facility to make a donation. Currently, the food bank supports more than 800 clients each month.

“This event reminds people that we always need donations. It keeps it in the forefront that hunger doesn’t go away,” she said.

WHY: To benefit local charities: Colchester Food Bank, Cobequid Educational Centre Safe Grad, the Children’s Wish Foundation, Maggie’s Place Family Resource Centre, the Boys and Girls Club of Truro and Colchester, the Colchester SPCA